The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-03-19
SENATOR GIBSON TALKS.

SENATOR GIBSON TALKS.
Senator Gibson, who is now at his
home in New Orleans, submitted 10 an
interview by States reporter the other
day. Considering the Senator'S close
relations witt, the President, and this
being his first s'talk" since the adjourn
ment of Congress, what be has to say,
Notwithstanding the interview is de-
void of political significance, Will prove
of interest:
81 was very much surprised That the
President did not sign the River and
Harbor bill, as in his letter Of accep-
lance he had declared himself favora-
bic to the improvement of waterways
and as he had signed u bill for larger
amount less than year ago, last
August, I had q conversation with
the President on the subject and he
told me that the bill was only placed
on his table the night before Congress
adjourned, aud that he mad no time to
examine it that he was very fatigued
by having been at hard work day after
day and night after night during the
closing days of the session. I am very
confident that early in the next Con-
gress "a River and Harbor bill will be
adopted and become q law and that the
bill for u building at Monroe will also
become a law then.'
"What do you think Of the PROPOSE.
ton for 4 separate bill for the Missis-
sippi ~
81 should like very much if we
could have a separate bill for the Mis-
sissippi river as that Is work 10 which
nave given particular attention.
While a member of the House organ
lied separate committee on the Mis-
|sissippi river, and during the eight
years that I was in the House sought
at every Congress 10 induce the House
to confer the power on that com n1ittee
to make appropriations for the Missis-
sippi river. I could never get any
support. think separate bill might
possibly be passed in the Senate. In
fact, did once get a bill for Il million
for the river, called the Emergency
bill, through the Senate, but under the
rules of the House. a separate bill is
impossible. The legislation for the
Mississippi is now so well malured
that the results achieved between St.
Louis and Cairo, and at Lake Provi>
dence and Plum Point reaches have
been SO beneficial to the people of the
upper as well as lower valley 80 much
interested, that while delays may oc-
cur, breaks in the annual appropria~
lions, no efforts to stop the work will
be successful. Over Sl2,000,000 have
been appropriated by the Federal gov
eminent to carry out the scheme aud I
wish to say here that the people of the
valley arc indebted to Capt. Jas. B.
Eads for all the benefits they have re-
ceived under this plan of improve
ment. I regard his death as public
calamity. He was providential man
and did more in his day and genera
ton for the people of the Mississippi
Valley than any other man."
"What do you think OF the probabil-
tiles of an extra..session, Senator ?"
81 doubt that there viii! be an extra
session unless s!ringency. in the
money market, owing to the surplus in
the treasury, should compel one, but
do believe that very soon, on the
meeting of Congress, measures will be
adopted to reduce taxation and the
surplus in the treasury"
"Where does the fault rest in the
failure of the passage of so many biits:"
"The difficulty arose from the exten.
ton of the jurisdiction of the govern
ment and the multiplicity OF subjects
Congress has to deal with. l heard
Speaker Carlisle say the other day that
he had looked at the matter and that
more bills had been introduced into
this Congress than had been introduced
in the first 60 years of the government.
I ascribe the delay to the rules Of the
House, and to the disposition of the
economists in the House TO hold back
the great appropriation bills In order
to defeat special appropriations and
bills for relief. President C!evelaud's
indisposition 10 sign bills without care
fully reading and understanding them
will probably induce Congress hereafter
to pass the great appropriation bills
earlier. President Arthur, although
representing party avowedly in favor
of internal Improvements and a policy
of liberal appropriations to all public
objects and high taxation, vetoed the
River and Harbor bill, which was tan
tamount to declaration of hostility,
while it will be observed that President
Cleveland did not veto the bill, but 1t
died upon his table us many other
bills did, because he found it phys.
icalIy impossible TO give them exam
ination and due consideration. as
rule river and hurbor bills have